Correction to: Polypharmacy definition and prevalence in heart failure: a systematic review
(Source: Heart Failure Reviews)
Source: Heart Failure Reviews - July 31, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Trends and complications associated with acute new-onset heart failure: a National Readmissions Database –based cohort study
The objective of this study is to study the outcomes of AHFpEF and AHFrEF in the USA. Data from the National Readmissions Database (NRD) sample that constitutes 49.1% of the stratified sample of all hospitals in the USA, representing more than 95% of the national population, were analyzed for hospitalization visits for acute heart failure. ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes were used to identify AHF. A total of 2,559,102 adult index AHF patients (mean age 70.79 ± 14.58 years, 49.4% females), 1,028,970 (40.2%) AHFpEF and 1,330,999 (52%) AHFrEF, were recorded in the National Readmissions Database for the years 2016–2018. A tota...
Source: Heart Failure Reviews - July 28, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Osteoprotegerin and RANKL-RANK-OPG-TRAIL signalling axis in heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases
This article presents the current state of knowledge on the mechanisms of action of OPG and TRAIL in the circulatory system and their role in cardiovascular diseases. Understanding these mechanisms may allow their use as a therapeutic target in cardiovascular diseases i n the future. (Source: Heart Failure Reviews)
Source: Heart Failure Reviews - July 27, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Dependence and reduced motor function in heart failure: future directions for well-being
This article summarizes reports of reduced independence and highlights its significant adverse outcomes in the patients with heart failure. Finally, this article discusses potential causes of reduced independence based on existing reports of impaired central and peripheral nervous systems in the patients with heart failure. Overall, the article provides a solid foundation for future studies investigating motor impairments in patients with heart failure. Such studies may lead to advances in treatment and prevention of reduced independence associated with heart failure, which ultimately contribute to the well-being of patien...
Source: Heart Failure Reviews - July 24, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Transcatheter therapies for secondary mitral regurgitation in advanced heart failure: what are we aiming for?
AbstractA severe secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) can be found in a significant portion of patients affected by advanced heart failure (AHF). Conventional therapies (optimal medical therapy, devices, surgery) present restricted clinical efficacy in this stage of the left ventricle disease which is burdened by high mortality and morbidity rates. Although the treatment of choice is represented by heart transplantation (HTx), there is an unmet need related to the limited supply of donor hearts (as opposed to the growing prevalence of AHF) and the low eligibility of highly symptomatic patients. In case of concomitant sever...
Source: Heart Failure Reviews - July 22, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Deciphering hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with electrocardiography
AbstractThe comprehensive assessment of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a complex process, with each step concurrently focusing on confirmation of the diagnosis, differentiation between sarcomeric and non-sarcomeric disease (phenocopy), and prognostication. Novel modalities such as genetic testing and advanced imaging have allowed for substantial advancements in the understanding of this condition and facilitate patient management. However, their availability is at present not universal, and interpretation requires a high level of expertise. In this setting, electrocardiography, a fast and widely available met...
Source: Heart Failure Reviews - July 21, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
The place of vericiguat in the landscape of treatment for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
AbstractThe significant morbidity and mortality associated with heart failure with reduced (HFrEF) or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) justify the search for novel therapeutic agents. The nitric oxide (NO) –soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway plays an important role in the regulation of cardiovascular function. This pathway is disrupted in HF resulting in decreased protection against myocardial injury. The sGC activator cinaciguat increases cGMP levels by di rect, NO-independent activation of sGC, and may be particularly effective in conditions of increased oxidative stress an...
Source: Heart Failure Reviews - July 21, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Advanced cardiovascular multimodal imaging and aortic stenosis
AbstractAortic valve stenosis has become the most common valvular heart disease on account of aging population and increasing life expectancy. Echocardiography is the primary diagnosis tool for this, but it still has many flaws. Therefore, advanced cardiovascular multimodal imaging techniques are continuously being developed in order to overcome these limitations. Cardiac magnetic resonan ce imaging (CMR) allows a comprehensive morphological and functional evaluation of the aortic valve and provides important data for the diagnosis and risk stratification in patients with aortic stenosis. CMR can functionally assess t...
Source: Heart Failure Reviews - July 19, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Current and emerging drug targets in heart failure treatment
AbstractAfter initial strategies targeting inotropism and congestion, the neurohormonal interpretative model of heart failure (HF) pathophysiology has set the basis for current pharmacological management of HF, as most of guideline recommended drug classes, including beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, blunt the activation of detrimental neurohormonal axes, namely sympathetic and renin –angiotensin–aldosterone (RAAS) systems. More recently, sacubitril/valsartan, a first-in-class angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor, com...
Source: Heart Failure Reviews - July 17, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
The use of diflunisal for transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis: a review
AbstractTransthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CM) is caused by the accumulation of misfolded transthyretin (TTR) protein in the myocardium. Diflunisal, an agent that stabilizes TTR, has been used as an off-label therapeutic for ATTR-CM. Given limited data surrounding the use of diflunisal, a systematic review of the literature is warranted. We searched the PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase databases for studies that reported on the use of diflunisal therapy for patients with ATTR-CM. We included English language studies which assessed the effect of diflunisal in adult patients with ATTR-CM who received diflunisal as primary tr...
Source: Heart Failure Reviews - July 16, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Functional tricuspid regurgitation, related right heart remodeling, and available treatment options: good news for patients with heart failure?
AbstractSignificant functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR) represents a poor prognostic factor independent of right ventricular (RV) function. It is usually the consequence of left-sided cardiac diseases that induce RV dilatation and dysfunction, but it can also resulted from right atrial (RA) enlargement and consequent tricuspid annular dilatation. FTR is very frequent among patients with heart failure, particularly in those with reduced LVEF and concomitant functional mitral regurgitation. The development of three-dimensional echocardiography enabled detailed assessment of tricuspid valve anatomy, subvavlular apparatus...
Source: Heart Failure Reviews - July 15, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Risk stratification in cardiogenic shock: a focus on the available evidence
AbstractCardiogenic shock is a clinical syndrome which is defined as the presence of primary cardiac disorder that results in hypotension together with signs of organ hypoperfusion in the state of normovolaemia or hypervolaemia. It represents a complex life-threatening condition, characterized by a high mortality rate, that requires urgent diagnostic assessment as well as treatment; therefore, it is of paramount important to advocate for a thorough risk stratification. In fact, the early identification of patients that could benefit the most from more aggressive and invasive approaches could facilitate a more efficient res...
Source: Heart Failure Reviews - July 14, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Dilated cardiomyopathy in the era of precision medicine: latest concepts and developments
AbstractDilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is an umbrella term entailing a wide variety of genetic and non-genetic etiologies, leading to left ventricular systolic dysfunction and dilatation, not explained by abnormal loading conditions or coronary artery disease. The clinical presentation can vary from asymptomatic to heart failure symptoms or sudden cardiac death (SCD) even in previously asymptomatic individuals. In the last 2 decades, there has been striking progress in the understanding of the complex genetic basis of DCM, with the discovery of additional genes and genotype –phenotype correlation studies. Rigorous clinical...
Source: Heart Failure Reviews - July 14, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Exosomes in atrial fibrillation: therapeutic potential and role as clinical biomarkers
AbstractAtrial fibrillation (AF), the most common cardiac arrhythmia, is a global epidemic. AF can cause heart failure and myocardial infarction and increase the risk of stroke, disability, and thromboembolic events. AF is becoming increasingly ubiquitous and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality at higher ages, resulting in an increasing threat to human health as well as substantial medical and social costs. Currently, treatment strategies for AF focus on controlling heart rate and rhythm with medications to restore and maintain sinus rhythm, but this approach has limitations. Catheter ablation is not entir...
Source: Heart Failure Reviews - July 12, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Dilated cardiomyopathy: a new insight into the rare but common cause of heart failure
AbstractHeart failure is a global health burden responsible for high morbidity and mortality with a prevalence of greater than 60 million individuals worldwide. One of the major causes of heart failure is dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), characterized by associated systolic dysfunction. During the last few decades, there have been remarkable advances in our understanding about the genetics of dilated cardiomyopathy. The genetic causes were initially thought to be associated with mutations in genes encoding proteins that are localized to cytoskeleton and sarcomere only; however, with the advancement in mechanistic understandin...
Source: Heart Failure Reviews - July 10, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
